Top 25 Albums of 2013 5 - Numbers 5 to 1

One of my personal favourites this year. What's not to like about Daft Punk + Nile Rogers? Fun to dance to. Fun to listen to. Unlike much dance music it stands up well to repeated close listening.

4

The National

Trouble Will Find Me

Critics + Fans

It's nicely produced, atmospheric, etc. But I don't feel like it's advancing the state of the art as laid down by Nick Cave or Joy Division or some other confessional singer/songwriters. Certainly listenable and enjoyable - but I was kinda hoping for more.

3

Nick Cave and The Bad
Seeds

Push the Sky Away

Critics + Fans

...speaking of which. The real deal. 120 years on and still going strong.

2

Vampire Weekend

Modern Vampires of the City

Critics + Fans

This one is growing on me slowly. Dense arty indie pop rock.

1

My Bloody Valentine

m b v

Critics + Fans

What is it with shoegaze this year? Another album that just missed out on the list was the industrial shoegaze Sunbather by Deafheaven.

Amazing that this is #1 on the list when it isn't on iTunes or Spotify. You need to buy it from the artist's site. I appreciate the immersive and experiential nature of shoegaze - and this is probably as good a contemporary example as you'll find anywhere. I would have said it's not for everybody - but clearly a lot of critics and fans have made the effort to track it down and vote for it.